1750 Challoner Revision of the Douay-Rheims (DR)

Proverbs 8

1 The fame, 6 and evidency of wisdom. 1 The excellency, 12 the nature, 15 the power, 18 the riches, 22 and the eternity of wisdom. 32 Wisdom is to be desired for the blessedness it bringeth.

 8:1 ¶ Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?

 8:2 Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths,

 8:3 Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:

 8:4 O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.

 8:5 O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice.

 8:6 Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.

 8:7 My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.

 8:8 All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in them.

 8:9 They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.

 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.

 8:11 For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.

 8:12 I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.

 8:13 The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.

 8:14 Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.

 8:15 By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things.

 8:16 By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.

 8:17 I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.

 8:18 With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.

 8:19 For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.

 8:20 I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,

 8:21 That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.

 8:22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.

 8:23 I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made.

 8:24 The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out.

 8:25 The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been established: before the hills, I was brought forth:

 8:26 He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.

 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law, and compass, he enclosed the depths:

 8:28 When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:

 8:29 When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the foundations of the earth;

 8:30 I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;

 8:31 Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.

 8:32 Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways.

 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.

 8:35 He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.

 8:36 But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.